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STUDIES IN RAILROAD OPERATIONS AND ECONOMICS. VOLUME 26. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAILROAD WORK RULES AND OPERATING PLANS

The issue of railroad work rule reform is addressed by analyzing the relationship between work rules and operating plans. In particular, the relationship between road crew consist and through train operation is studied. It is hypothesized that such a relationship exists and that work rule reform, implemented in concert with changes in operating plans, can decrease cost and improve service, without necessarily reducing employment. A theory of the work rule/operating plan relationship is developed and applied to the Boston and Maine Railroad. It is observed that decreased crew consist allows the operation of additional through trains which improve service at no extra cost, and that decreased employment need not result. The hypothesis is confirmed in the conclusion. It is emphasized that the possibilities of an agreement on work rule reform would be improved by an understanding of the work rule/operating plan relationship, with consideration of car hour costs being crucial to that understanding.